Uhunmwode Council Considers Women Empowerment Programme Targeting 1,200 Women
The Executive Chairman of Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Edo State, Hon. Austin Imafidon, has received a proposal from the Helping Women for a Sustainable Tomorrow Foundation to empower more than 1,200 women through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development.
The proposed initiative, presented by Prof. Elizabeth Pedro, is designed to promote women's economic independence, reduce poverty and create sustainable livelihood opportunities through vocational training and business development.
The programme, which is planned for implementation in two phases, will initially target more than 800 women drawn from the 10 political wards of Uhunmwode Local Government Area. Participants are expected to receive training in confectionery production, soap making, perfume production, smart farming, digital marketing and other income-generating ventures.
To ensure wider participation and accessibility, the first phase will be organised across four training centres within the local government area.
Ehor Technical College will serve beneficiaries from Ehor Ward 1, Uhi Ward 2, Igieduma Ward 3 and Irhue Ward 4. The centre at Eyean will accommodate women from Umagbae Wards 5 and 6, while Obadan will host participants from Ohuan Ward 9 and Egbede Ward 10.
The fourth centre will serve beneficiaries from Isi North Ward 7 and Isi South Ward 8. Each zone is expected to accommodate approximately 200 women.
The first phase is expected to culminate in a grand Women Empowerment Day at the Uhunmwode Local Government Council Secretariat in Ehor.
The second phase will target more than 400 additional women for six months of intensive vocational training in specialised trades, including tailoring, hairdressing and other practical skills.
According to the proposal, beneficiaries who successfully complete the training will receive empowerment support through a proposed partnership between the foundation and the local government council. The support is intended to help them establish their own businesses, become financially independent and contribute to the economic development of their communities.
Receiving the proposal, Hon. Imafidon commended Prof. Pedro for her foresight, humanitarian commitment and determination to improve the socioeconomic well-being of women in Uhunmwode.
He described the initiative as a commendable intervention that aligns with his administration's commitment to grassroots development, human capital investment and the creation of sustainable economic opportunities for residents.
The council chairman also appreciated Prof. Pedro's husband, an indigene of Obadan Community in Uhunmwode, for encouraging and supporting his wife's decision to extend the foundation's intervention to the local government area.
He described the gesture as an example of how individuals and families could contribute to the development of their ancestral communities through meaningful partnerships and humanitarian initiatives.
Hon. Imafidon assured the foundation that the proposal would receive the attention of the council's Executive Committee, adding that the implementation framework would be carefully examined to determine how the programme could be fast-tracked for the benefit of the intended beneficiaries.
He emphasised that equipping women with practical skills and entrepreneurial knowledge was an effective way to strengthen household economies, tackle unemployment and promote sustainable development at the grassroots.
The chairman further noted that development extends beyond the provision of physical infrastructure to include deliberate investments in human capacity, particularly among women and young people.
He stressed that initiatives capable of transforming beneficiaries into productive entrepreneurs deserved serious consideration, especially when they involved collaboration between government and credible development-oriented organisations.
If approved and implemented, the proposed partnership between Uhunmwode Local Government Council and the Helping Women for a Sustainable Tomorrow Foundation is expected to expand access to vocational training, stimulate small-scale enterprises and create new economic opportunities for women across the 10 political wards.
The initiative also reflects the administration's broader commitment to building an economically productive and inclusive Uhunmwode, where women are empowered to participate actively in community development and drive sustainable socioeconomic transformation.
